Self adjusting window masking device



April 28, 1959 M. MUND SELF ADJUSTING WINDOW MASKING DEVICE Filed Oct. 1, 1956 INVENTOR Mame/J Mm 0 ATTORNEY United States Patent SELF ADJUSTING WINDOW MASKING DEVICE Morris Mund, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application October 1, 1956, Serial No. 613,163

Claims. (Cl. 118-505) This invention relates to a self adjusting window masking device for covering the glass portion of a window structure while spray painting the window frame members thereof, said device comprising, in combination, a first sheet of stiff, flexible, resilient material upon which is mounted an arcuate shaped band member, and a second sheet of stiff, flexible, resilient material upon which is mounted a lever mechanism, which, in cooperation with the arcuate shaped band, provides means for securely and removably attaching the masking device to a window frame or the like, in such manner and in such a position as to permit the painting or spray coating of that portion of the window frame which is left exposed.

Masking devices have been utilized heretofore in the operation of coating or painting small surfaces and, in particular, the frame work around the window glass. However, the devices presently utilized and heretofore applied have not provided a practical nor an economical means for solving the problem which presently exists in this art. The use of other devices such as masking tape to properly cover portions of a window frame in order to protect them from being painted during the spraying operation is costly, requiring much time, effort and material.

Various types of masking devices have been introduced by prior workers in the art for doing away with masking tapes or papers or other selective covering means. However, in each of these cases, very serious problems arise in the waste of costly time and material. Also, the prior art devices have not provided effectively the desired degree of covering to insure a clean, desirable and Workmanlike job.

With the masking device of my invention, the problems set forth, including loss of valuable time by the high salaried personnel employed in this field and waste of costly material, are obviated and permanently eliminated. The masking device of my invention requires but a few seconds time for installation and does away completely with waste of material, in addition to providing an elfective degree of covering to insure a clear, desirable, and workmanlike job at the completion of the work.

An object of this invention is to provide a self adjusting masking device capable of cutting to an absolute minimum the time required in masking the glass portion of a window structure which is not to be covered or painted during a spray painting operation; thus to reduce the cost of labor required for the operation of masking a window glass, or the like, and to effect a large saving in job cost.

Another object of this invention is to eliminate the waste of material which presently exists in the masking of window glass. The use of masking tapes, while somewhat efiective, is costly because the tape after having been used, is wasted and thrown away. Also labor cost in applying masking tape makes this an expensive expedient.

Another object of this invention is to provide aself adjusting masking device which can be utilized over and over again.

Another object of this invention is to provide a self adjusting masking device which can be used for window frames of different sizes and widths, without the use of masking tapes or papers to cover the areas not to be covered by paints or other similar materials; whereby a perfect line of demarcation can be obtained between the frame surface area to be spray coated and the remainder of the frame.

A further object of this invention is to provide a self adjusting masking device comprising in combination, two sheets of material, with one sheet held in overlapping relation to the other sheet by means of a lever and spring arrangement on one sheet and an arcuate holding member on the other sheet, whereby the masking device tightly adjusts itself over the window glass between the respec tive opposite portions of the window frame.

Other objects and features of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description which is not intended to be limiting but is set forth here as a preferred embodiment.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the device applied to a window frame.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the device taken on line 22 of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the device as seen in Figure 2.

Like numerals designate similar component parts.

More specifically, there is provided a first plate or sheet 10 which may be bent at 11 to provide an oflset portion 12. Plate 10 may be formed of any configuration or of any dimension depending upon the frame work to which it will be applied, and the shape of the plate is merely shown here for purposes of illustration. On plate 10 adjacent the bend 11, an arcuate member 13 of angle shape in cross-section is fixed to said first plate by means of rivets 15 extended through leg 14 of the member 13 and through the plate 10. The leg 16 of the arcuate member extends substantially at right angles to the leg 14 and to the plate 10.

A second plate or sheet 17 is provided for cooperative association with the first plate 10, and of a configuration and shape which in association with plate 10 will operate to mask the glass portion 50 of a frame to which it is applied. Plate 17 may be bevelled at 21 to mate with bend 11 on plate 10. A lever mechanism 18 comprising arms 19 and 20 is adjustably mounted on plate 17. Pivot pins 22 and 23 are received in openings 26, 26 provided in plate 17, and bevelled washers 27, each having a countersunk opening 28 are provided to receive the tapered head of each of pins 22 and 23. A fiat washer 40 is applied on each pin 22 and 23 between the plate 17 and the seating of arms 19 and 20, respectively. Arm 19 is adjustably mounted on pin 22 by means of openings 29 extending through the arm. Arm 20 is likewise adjustably mounted in a similar manner on pin 23 by means of openings 30 extending through the arm 20. A U-shaped leaf spring 31 is connected to the arms 19 and 20 by means of pins 32, 32 which are received in openings 33, 34, respectively, in the arms. The U-shaped spring acts in compression normally to urge the lever arms outwardly in the direction of arrows A and B from each other for the purpose hereinafter set forth. A fiat retaining member 35 having openings 36, 36 which are provided to receive pins 22 and 23, respectively, is mounted to extend be tween the lever arms 19 and 20 and to overlap the turned portion of U-spring 31 in order to retain the spring in a position lying in the plane of the lever arms and to prevent the spring from turning on the pivots 32, 32. A coil spring 37 is interposed between the retaining member 35 and the lever arms so as to prevent binding action between the members. Wing nuts 24, 25, respectively, are provided on the threaded ends of pins 22 and 23 to hold the lever structure is assembled position and to permit rapid disassembly and assembly for readjusting the lever arms or the pivot members 22, 23.

in using the device shown in the appended drawings, the lever arms 19 and 20 are pressed together in the direction of arrows C and D against the action of U-spn'ng 31 by the operator with one hand which holds the entire assembly as mounted on plate 17, with his other hand holding the associate member 13 attached to plate or the plate 10 itself. In this manner the plates are fitted within the frame F at their outer ends; with the inner ends of the plates held in a slightly outward position from the plane of the frame. The outer ends of the lever arms 19 and which are sloped at 38 and 39, respectively, as clearly shown in Figure l, are then mated with the arcuate member 13 in a position underneath the leg 16. The entire assembly is then positioned into the plane of the frame F and over the glass 59, and the lever arms 19 and 20 are urged outwardly in the direction of arrows A and B by the action of spring 31, to contact the inner portion of leg 16 of the arcuate member 13. The sloped ends 38, 39 of arms 19 and 20, respectively, contact the arcuate member 13 at the legs 16 and 14, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and, by reason of the action of the U-shaped spring, force the outer ends of the plates 16 and 17 into positive contact with the frame to which the assembly is applied. The ofiset portion 12 of plate It) overlaps plate 17 to permit a smooth contact between the plates and to insure an effective masking operation.

In the use of the device it is obvious that it may be applied to window frames of different sizes by adjusting the effective longitudinal dimension of arms 19 and 20 on the pivot pins 22 and 23 by means of the openings 29 and 31), respectively.

It may also be clearly seen here that spring 31 is but a preferred embodiment and that other type springs may be utilized to provide the desired operation of the lever arms. Likewise the assembly is possible of utilization within a window frame in either a vertical or horizontal plane.

From the foregoing subject matter, it is seen that I have provided a self adjusting window masking device whereby perfect lines of demarcation can be obtained between the part of a window frame, viz. the glass portion, which is desired to be covered in spray painting and that part to be masked, thereby preventing the waste of paint or other coating material and at the same time eliminating the waste of time, labor and material formerly required to provide an effective masking arrangement and to remove paint from the windows themselves.

Plate or sheet members 10 and 17, as hereinabove set forth, are of stiff, flexible, and resilient material, such as plastic sheets, steel sheets, copper sheets, brass sheets, and the like.

Many changes and alteration may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is set forth in the appended claims which are to be con strued as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A self adjusting window masking device for covering the glass portion of a window structure while spray painting the window frames thereof, comprising, in combination, a first sheet of material having a shape complementary to the inner upper portion of said window frame, a second sheet of material having a shape complementary to the inner lower portion of said window frame, the bottom portion of said first sheet being in contact with the upper portion of said second sheet, and means for moving said first and second sheets into engagement with the respective opposite portions of the window frame, one portion of said means being vertically movably attached to, and pivotally mounted on, said second sheet and the other portion of said means being attached to said first sheet, said one portion including two spaced lever arms and a spring means operatively attached to each of said lever arms at the respective ends thereof opposite to each other for urging said lever arms into operative contact with said other portion, whereby the said lever arms may be longitudinally adjusted and whereby the masking device tightly adjusts itself over the window glass between the respective portions of the window frame thereby preventing the paint from reaching the window glass.

2. A self adjusting window masking device for covering the glass portion of a window structure while spray painting the window frames thereof, comprising, in combination, a first sheet of material having a shape complementary to the inner upper portion of said window frame, a second sheet of material having a shape complementary to the inner lower portion of said window frame, the bottom portion of said first sheet being in contact with the upper portion of said second sheet, and means for moving said first and second sheets into engagement with the respective opposite portions of the window frame, one portion of said means being attached to said second sheet and the other portion of said means being attached to said first sheet, said one portion including two spaced lever arms, each of said arms being pivotally mounted on said second sheet, a spring means operatively attached to each of said lever arms at the respective ends thereof opposite to each other for urging said lever arms into operative contact with said other portion, and a retaining means connected to and extending between said lever arms at their respective ends opposite to said first mentioned ends thereof for maintaining said spring means in position between said lever arms, whereby the masking device tightly adjusts itself over the window glass between the respective portions of the window frame thereby preventing the paint from reaching the window glass.

3. A self adjusting window masking device for covering the glass portion of a window structure while spray painting the window frames thereof, comprising, in combination, a first sheet of material having a shape complementary to the inner upper portion of said window frame, a second sheet of material having a shape complementary to the inner lower portion of said window frame, the bottom portion of said first sheet being in contact with the upper portion of said second sheet, and means for moving said first and second sheets into engagement with the respective opposite portions of the window frame, one portion of said means being attached to said second sheet and the other portion of said means being attached to said first sheet, said one portion including two spaced pivotally mounted lever arms and a U-shaped spring means operatively attached to each of said lever arms at ends of said lever arms opposite to each other for urging said lever arms into operative contact with said other portion, whereby the masking device tightly adjusts itself over the window glass between the respective portions of the window frame thereby preventing the paint from reaching the window glass.

4. A self adjusting window masking device for covering the glass portion of a window structure while spray painting the window frames thereof, comprising, in combination, a first sheet of material having a shape complementary to the inner upper portion of said Window frame, a second sheet of material having a shape complementary to the inner lower portion of said window frame, the bottom portion of said first sheet being in contact with the upper portion of said second sheet, and means for moving said first and second sheets into engagement with the respective opposite portions of the window frame, one portion of said means being attached to said second sheet and the other portion of said means being attached to said first sheet, said one portion including spaced apart pivot members, a first lever arm movably mounted on one of said .pivot members, a sec- 0nd lever arm movably mounted on the other of said pivot members, and a U-shaped spring means operatively attached to each of said lever arms at the respective ends thereof opposite to each other for urging said lever arms into operative contact with said other portion, whereby the masking device tightly adjusts itself over the window glass between the respective opposite portions of the window frame thereby preventing the paint from reaching the window glass.

5. A self adjusting window masking device for substantially covering the glass portion of a window structure while spray painting the window frames thereof, comprising, in combination, a first sheet of material having a shape complementary to one of the inner upper and lower portions of said window frame, a second sheet of material having a shape complementary to the other of the inner upper and lower portions of said window frame, the bottom portion of one of said first and second sheets being in contact with the upper portion of the other of said first and second sheets, and means for moving said first and second sheets into engagement with the respective opposite portions of the window frame, one portion of said means being vertically movably attached to, and pivotally mounted on, said second sheet and the other portion of said means being attached to said first sheet, said one portion including two spaced lever arms and a spring means operatively attached to each of said lever arms at the respective ends thereof opposite to each other for urging said lever arms into operative contact with said other portion, whereby the saidlever arms may be longitudinally adjusted and whereby the masking device tightly adjusts itself over the window glass between the respective portions of the window frame thereby preventing the paint from reaching the window glass.

6. A self adjusting window masking device for substantially covering the glass portion of a window structure while spray painting the window frames thereof, comprising, in combination, a first sheet of material having a shape complementary to one of the inner upper and lower portions of said window frame, a second sheet of material having a shape complementary to the other of the inner upper and lower portions of said window frame, the bottom portion of one of said first and second sheets being in contact with the upper portion of the other of said first and second sheets, and means for moving said first and second sheets into engagement with the respective opposite portions of the window frame, one portion of said means being pivotally mounted on one of said first and second sheets and the other portion of said means being attached to said other of said first and second sheets, said other portion of said means including an arcuate member, said one portion including two spaced lever arms and a spring means operatively attached to each of said lever arms at the respective ends thereof opposite to each other for urging said lever arms into operative contact with said arcuate member, whereby the masking device tightly adjusts itself substantially over the window glass between the respective portions of the window frame thereby preventing the paint from reaching the window glass.

7. A self adjusting window masking device for substantially covering the glass portion of a window structure while spray painting the window frames thereof, comprising, in combination, a first sheet of material having a shape complementary to one of the inner upper and lower portions of said window frame, a second sheet of material having a shape complementary to the other of the inner upper and lower portions of said window frame, the bottom portion of one of said first and second sheets being in contact with the upper portion of the other of said first and second sheets, and means for moving said first and second sheets into engagement with the respective opposite portions of the window frame, one portion of said means being pivotally mounted on one of said first and second sheets and the other portion of said means being attached to said other of said first and second sheets, said other portion of said means including an arcuate member, said one portion including two spaced lever arms and a spring means operati'tely attached to and positioned between each of said lever arms for urging said lever arms into operative contact with said arcuate member, whereby the masking device tightly adjusts itself substantially over tLe window glass between the respective portions of the window frame thereby preventing the paint from reaching the window glass.

8. A self adjusting window masking device for substantially covering the glass portion of a window structure while spray painting the window frames thereof, comprising, in combination, a first sheet of material having a shape complementary to one inner portion of said window frame, a second sheet of material having a shape complementary to the other inner portion of said window frame, the bottom portion of one of said first and second sheets being in contact with the upper portion of the other of said first and second sheets, and means for moving said first and second sheets into engagement with the respective opposite portions of the Window frame, one portion of said means being pivotally mounted on one of said first and second sheets and the other portion of said means being attached to said other of said first and second sheets, said other portion of said means including an arcuate member, said one portion of said means including two spaced lever arms and a spring means operatively attached to and positioned between each of said lever arms for urging said lever arms into operative contact with said arcuate member, whereby the masking device tightly adjusts itself substantially over the window glass between the respective portions of the window frame thereby preventing the paint from reaching the window glass.

9. A self adjusting window masking device for covering at least a part of the glass portion of a window structure while spray painting the window frames thereof, comprising, in combination, a first sheet of material having a shape complementary to at least a part of one inner portion of said window frame, a second sheet of material having a shape complementary to at least a part of the other inner portion of said window frame, the bottom portion of one of said first and second sheets being in contact with the upper portion of the other of said first and second sheets, and means for moving said first and second sheets into engagement with at least parts of the respective opposite portions of the window frame, one portion of said means being pivotally mounted on one of said first and second sheets and the other portion of said means being attached to said other of said first and second sheets, said other portion of said means ineluding an arcuate means for receiving in engagement therewith said one portion thereof, said one portion thereof including two spaced lever arms and a spring means operatively attached to and positioned between each of said lever arms for urging said lever arms into operative contact with said arcuate means, whereby the masking device tightly adjusts itself over at least a portion of the window glass between the respective parts of the respective portions of the window frame.

10. A self adjusting window masking device for covering at least a part of the glass portion of a window structure while spray painting the window frames thereof, comprising, in combination, a first sheet of material having a shape complementary to at least a part of one inner portion of said window frame, a second sheet of material having a shape complementary to at least a part of the other inner portion of said window frame, the bottom portion of said first sheet being in contact with the upper portion of said second sheet, and means for moving said first and second sheets into engagement with at least parts of the respective opposite portions of the window frame, one portion of said means being attached to one of said first and second sheets and comprising an arcuate member,' and the other portion of said means being attached to the other of said first and second members and comprising two spaced, pivotally mounted lever arms and a spring means operatively attached to and positioned between each of said lever arms for urging said lever arms into operative contact with said one portion of said means, whereby the masking device tightly adjusts itself over at least a. portion of the window glass between the respective parts of the respective portions of the window frame.

5 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,562,948 Elliot Nov. 24, 1925 

